Western Europe

Mr. Jura Nanuk, founder and president of the Central-European Religious Freedom Institute (CERFI) based in Budapest, Hungary, spoke on the topic of “Religious Freedom in Hungary and the New Law on Minority Faiths”. Mr. Nanuk said he was inspired to start his institute by an anonymous quote, “Sometimes I want to ask Godwhy He allows poverty, famine and injustice in the world, but I’m afraid He may ask me the same question.”

Mankind is not reduced to citizenship. A superior power prevails over men’s power. Human rights are untouchable and more important to singular identities In front of a unique God that mankind can be one, and greater than each man in his family. Mankind remains forever under God’s supervision, even if some people forget it.

Berlin, Germany - A European Leadership Conference in Berlin November 15-17 addressed the issue "What Kind of Europe Do We Want in the Future?" (Wie soll das Europa der Zukunft aussehen?). Some 80 participants listened to and discussed 20 presentations assessing and presenting possible solutions to the current crisis of Europe in general and the European Union in particular.

An International Leadership conference on the topic "Europe and Russia - Partners in a Globalized World," was held in Vienna on October 12 and 13, 2012, organized by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) in cooperation with the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS) and the Women's Federation for World Peace.

The eighth session consisted of reflections and the presentation of Ambassador for Peace Certificates.

The sixth session was chaired by Mr. Bogdan Pammer, Youth Director, UPF-Europe.

The fifth session was chaired by Mrs. Yoshiko Pammer, Youth UPF-Austria.

The seventh session was chaired by Mr. Peter Zöhrer, President of the Unification Movement in Austria.

Many former theoretical concepts about the inter-ethnic and inter-cultural interactions between different population groups in Europe are being revised. One such concept is multiculturalism.

The Second World War with its countless victims was a great tragedy for all humanity. One of the most important motivations for opposing any acts of aggression and violence should be the remembrance of millions of fallen, mutilated, and tortured victims of concentration camps.

Europe is a strange continent. Strictly speaking, indeed it is not a continent at all but a mere peninsula tacked onto Asia. Looking at the map, Russia west of the Ural Mountains is either the base or the beginning of this peninsula. But, because of its unmistakable cultural identity, this peninsula has become a continent on its own and Russia is without any doubt an indispensable part of it.

First of all, as Chair of Universal Peace Federation in Europe I would like to extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to each and every one of you to this important conference on "Europe and Russia: Partners in a Globalised World". It is very good to see you all here today!

It is a privilege to participate in this European Leadership conference here in Vienna, co-sponsored by the Women’s Federation for World Peace and the Academic Council on the United Nations System.

The Universal Peace Federation is dedicated to the promotion of good relations, good partnerships among peoples, nations, religions.

We consider the issue of visa abolition for short-term trips by Russian Federation and European Union citizens to be one of priorities of our current relations with the EU. A breakthrough in this direction will be a serious achievement in our strategic partnership with the EU as well as a sound stimulus for developing economic, cultural, and humanitarian interrelations.

I am happy to welcome the organizers and participants of the conference on cooperation of Russia and European Union in this era of globalization.

The fourth session was chaired by Mr. Mark Brann, Secretary General of UPF-Europe.

The third session was chaired by Dr. Michael Platzer, Director of ACUNS Vienna.

The second session was chaired by Prof. Dr.  Thomas Kruessmann, University of Graz, Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies.

The first session was chaired by Mr Peter Haider, Secretary General of UPF-Austria.